A FOOTBALL club has been forced to rearrange a friendly match and training sessions after travellers moved onto a playing pitch in Bankfoot.

Caravans moved on to the football field at Carrbottom Recreation Ground in Carrbottom Road, Bankfoot, on Tuesday.

It means Great Horton FC, which plays home matches on the pitch, has had to rearrange a friendly match planned there for this Sunday.

Club manager Wayne Sykes said he and his team were frustrated by the travellers and has called for a railing to be built around the perimeter of the site.

He said: "It's disappointing and frustrating. It will affect us. They are actually on the pitch.

"What can we do about it? I don't know how long it will take to move them. It depends what mess they leave behind once they go."

About 11 caravans were reported on the site yesterday.

Andrew Butterworth, club player and secretary, said: "It's annoying really. This could throw our season up in the air."

Wibsey councillor Ralph Berry (Lab) said Bradford Council had applied for a land possession order to Bradford County Court to get the travellers moved off the site.

He added: "It's an open piece of land in the heart of the community. We have a chronic shortage of pitches as it is. We are trying to liaise with the group so they can move on."